Garbage collection device

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a garbage collection device including a garbage bag or a garbage can or both. The garbage bag has a garbage bag bottom portion and garbage bag side wall portions and the garbage can having a garbage can bottom portion and garbage can side wall portions. A disposable layer of liquid absorbing material is juxtaposed adjacent to at least one of the garbage bag bottom portion and the garbage can bottom portion to collect the liquid which drips from the garbage in the bag or can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an improved garbage collectiondevice. More specifically, it relates to the use of a layer of liquidabsorbing material to collect and hold liquid leachate or other liquidswhich are discarded with or produced from garbage which is discardedinto a garbage bag or garbage can.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Many forms of garbage cans and garbage bags are known in the art.Various forms of garbage compaction is also known. Most existing garbagebags are fabricated from plastic material of various thicknesses whichare typically measured in mils. Various forms of handle ties, cinchingstrips or other devices to secure the top of the bags in a closedposition are known. Typically, however, such bags are formed from asingle layer of plastic which is intended to fully contain the contentsof the bag. Such bags, in actual practice, however, are prone tobecoming punctured or torn and thus allowing leachate and other liquidsto drain from the bag either into the garbage can or onto the floor orground or even onto the feet of the person who is taking out thegarbage.

[0005] Garbage cans typically consist of a container with a bottom, fourwalls and optional top portions. Some bottom walls are closed and somebottom walls are provided with holes to allow drainage of liquids whichmay accumulate in the can. The cleaning and disposal of liquidscollected in the bottom of the can is a difficult and disgusting task.The alternative of allowing such liquid to drain from the can onto theproperty of the owner is extremely unsanitary and should be avoided.

[0006] There remains a need for a garbage bag and a garbage can whichaddresses the issue of leachate or other liquid collection and whicheliminates the above-described problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention meets these needs by providing, in essence,a “disposal diaper” type product for use in combination with aconventional garbage bag or garbage can or both. In its simplest form,the present invention includes a garbage collection device comprising atleast one of a garbage bag and a garbage can, said garbage bag having agarbage bag bottom portion and garbage bag side wall portions and saidgarbage can having a garbage can bottom portion and garbage can sidewall portions; and a disposable layer of liquid absorbing materialjuxtaposed adjacent to at least one of the garbage bag bottom portionand the garbage can bottom portion.

[0008] In a presently preferred embodiment, the garbage collectiondevice has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removablyplaced inside of said garbage bag adjacent an inner surface of thebottom portion of said garbage bag.

[0009] In another embodiment, the garbage collection device has saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably adhered to aninner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage bag.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material and is removably placedoutside of said garbage bag adjacent an outer surface of the bottomportion of said garbage bag. In yet another embodiment, the garbagecollection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing materialand is removably adhered to an outer surface of the bottom portion ofsaid garbage bag.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably placed inside ofsaid garbage can adjacent an inner surface of the bottom portion of saidgarbage can. In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection devicehas said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably adheredto an inner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can. In yetanother embodiment, the garbage collection device of said bottom portionof said garbage can is provided with drainage holes and said disposablelayer of liquid absorbing material is removably placed outside of saidgarbage can adjacent an outer surface of the bottom portion of saidgarbage can. In yet another embodiment of the invention, said bottomportion of said garbage can is provided with drainage holes and saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material is removably adhered to anouter surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can.

[0012] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the garbagecollection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing materialprovided adjacent at least one of garbage bag side wall portions andgarbage can side wall portions.

[0013] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material preferably furthercomprises an impervious lower layer and an upper layer of liquidabsorbing material. Preferably, said impervious layer is formed of aplastic material.

[0014] The liquid absorbing layer of the present invention may becomposed of any known liquid absorbing material. For example, but notintending to limit the scope of the present invention, said layer mayinclude any one or more of the following:

[0015] fluff pulp fibers;

[0016] at least one superabsorbent polymer selected from the groupconsisting of starch; copolymers of starch with grafted acrylic acid;polyacrylates; a saponification product of a starch-acrylonitrilecopolymer; and a cross linking of sodium carboxymethycellulose and anacrylic acid (or acrylate) polymer;

[0017] a sponge material; and

[0018] a cotton material.

[0019] The present invention may provide said disposable layer of liquidabsorbing material with odor absorption properties. For example, saidlayer may include superabsorbent polymers of the p61yacrylic type and ofcertain boron derivatives including sodium tctraboratc pentahydrate.

[0020] Further, said garbage collection device may also provide saiddisposable layer of liquid absorbing material with an air scent materialof any type which are well known in the art, such as Glade, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the present preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Referring to the figures, the presently preferred embodiments ofthe present invention will be described in detail.

[0027]FIGS. 1 through 5 show the presently contemplated embodiments ofthe present invention with the presently preferred embodiment shown asFIG. 1. As all of the drawings have the same reference numerals, all ofthe drawings will be referred to simultaneously. In each figure, agarbage can 10 is shown which has a bottom wall 14 and side walls 16. InFIGS. 1 through 3, a garbage bag 20 is shown which has a bottom portion24 and side wall portions 26. Garbage bag 20 is preferably made fromplastic but may also be desirably made from paper or some otherbiodegradable material to reduce harm to landfills and the environment.In each embodiment of the invention, a liquid absorbing material 30 isshown which, in its presently preferred embodiment, includes an upperlayer 32 of a liquid absorbing material and a lower layer 34 of a liquidimpervious material such as plastic. As can be shown from the variousfigures, the liquid absorbing material may be placed immediately aboveor below the bottom portion 24 of the garbage bag 20 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. Optionally, the liquid absorbing material 30 may be adhered tothe inner surface of garbage 20 in FIG. 1 or to the lower surface of thegarbage bag 20 in FIG. 2 by any suitable adhesive material such asrubber cement, glue or any other commercially available adhesive spray,liquid or tape product. Alternatively, the liquid absorbing material 30may be heat bonded to the garbage bag 20. Such adherence is utilizedsolely for the purpose of securing the liquid absorbing layer in place.FIG. 3 simply shows a liquid absorbing layer which extends up along theside walls of the garbage can 10 and garbage bag 20.

[0028]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show, respectively, that the liquid absorbinglayer 30 may be provided inside or below the lower surface 14 of garbagecan 10. Again, such liquid absorbing layer may be optionally removablyadhered to said surfaces. In FIG. 5, when the liquid absorbing layer 30is provided below the garbage can, it is preferable to provide drainageopenings 12 in the bottom portion 14 of the garbage can 10. This allowsany liquid which might otherwise be trapped in a garbage can to becollected by the liquid absorbing material 30.

[0029] As indicated in the Summary of the Invention, a variety ofmaterials are contemplated for use as a liquid absorbing material. Avariety of well known configurations for such absorbing materials aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 entitled Contractible Side Portionsfor Disposable Diaper which issued to K. B. Buell on Jan. 14, 1975; U.S.Pat. No. RE. 26,151 entitled Disposable Diaper which issued to R. C.Duncan et al. on Jan. 31, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,515 entitledDisposable Diaper issued to Tomoko Sugito on Aug. 8, 2000; and U.S. Pat.No. 6,342,653 issued to Gancet et al. on Jan. 29, 2002, each of whichpatents are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

[0030] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any form ofabsorbable material may be utilized with or without a lower imperviouslayer. While it is preferred to use such a lower plastic layer, theinvention still has great utility without such layer. In fact, it isenvisioned that liquid absorbing layer could also be formed solely froma biodegradable material without a plastic or other impervious layer toreduce ecological harm.

[0031] It will be noted that the drawings submitted herewith areinformal in nature and do not reflect the proper dimensions of theproposed product. It is envisioned that such product could be producedto be very thin (less than 1″ thick and preferably less than ¼″ thick)so that it will not take up unnecessary volume which could otherwise beutilized for garbage. Further, by keeping the product as thin aspossible, landfill space will be limited.

[0032] Further, it is contemplated that the present invention may employsome type of odor absorbing material such as baking powder, carbon orother known odor absorbing materials. Still further, it is contemplatedthat any type of air freshener or air deodorizer which could have theform of a solid or a liquid which could be incorporated into or sprayedonto the liquid absorbing material may be provided to reduce theunpleasant odors which are necessarily associated with garbagecollection and storage.

[0033] An added benefit of the present invention which will beparticularly useful for commercial businesses is that it will aid inabsorbing unfinished drinks and the like which are discarded into thegarbage at fast food restaurants and the like.

[0034] While I have shown and described the presently preferredembodiment of my invention, the invention is not limited thereto and maybe otherwise variously practiced within the scope of the followingclaims:

I claim:
 1. A garbage collection device comprising: a) at least one of agarbage bag and a garbage can, said garbage bag having a garbage bagbottom portion and garbage bag side wall portions and said garbage canhaving a garbage can bottom portion and garbage can side wall portions;and b) a disposable layer of liquid absorbing material juxtaposedadjacent to at least one of the garbage bag bottom portion and thegarbage can bottom portion.
 2. A garbage collection device according toclaim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material isremovably placed inside of said garbage bag adjacent an inner surface ofthe bottom portion of said garbage bag.
 3. A garbage collection deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbingmaterial is removably adhered to an inner surface of the bottom portionof said garbage bag.
 4. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material is removablyplaced outside of said garbage bag adjacent an outer surface of thebottom portion of said garbage bag.
 5. A garbage collection deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbingmaterial is removably adhered to an outer surface of the bottom portionof said garbage bag.
 6. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material is removablyplaced inside of said garbage can adjacent an inner surface of thebottom portion of said garbage can.
 7. A garbage collection deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbingmaterial is removably adhered to an inner surface of the bottom portionof said garbage can.
 8. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said bottom portion of said garbage can is provided withdrainage holes and said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material isremovably placed outside of said garbage can adjacent an outer surfaceof the bottom portion of said garbage can.
 9. A garbage collectiondevice according to claim 1 wherein said bottom portion of said garbagecan is provided with drainage holes and said disposable layer of liquidabsorbing material is removably adhered to an outer surface of thebottom portion of said garbage can.
 10. A garbage collection deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbingmaterial is also provided adjacent at least one of garbage bag side wallportions and garbage can side wall portions.
 11. A garbage collectiondevice according to claim 1 wherein said disposable layer of liquidabsorbing material further comprised an impervious lower layer and anupper layer of liquid absorbing material.
 12. A garbage collectiondevice according to claim 11 wherein said impervious layer is formed ofa plastic material.
 13. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material includesfluff pulp fibers.
 14. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material includes atleast one superabsorbent polymer selected from the group consisting ofstarch; copolymers of starch with grafted acrylic acid; polyacrylates; asaponification product of a starch-acrylonitrile copolymer; and a crosslinking of sodium carboxymethycellulose and an acrylic acid (oracrylate) polymer.
 15. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material includes asponge material.
 16. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material includes acotton material.
 17. A garbage collection device according to claim 1wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material includes odorabsorption properties.
 18. A garbage collection device according toclaim 17 wherein said disposable layer of liquid absorbing materialincludes superabsorbent polymers of the p61yacrylic type and of certainboron derivatives including sodium tctraboratc pentahydrate.
 19. Agarbage collection device according to claim 1 wherein said disposablelayer of liquid absorbing material further comprises an air scentmaterial.
 20. A garbage collection device according to claim 1 whereinsaid garbage bag is fabricated from a paper material.
 21. A garbagecollection device according to claim 1 wherein said garbage bag isfabricated from a plastic material.